Conspiracy theories, alternate realities, rash prophecies, disinformation, and big lies are ancient techniques used to create fear—and subsequently claim the only solution to calm it—thus gaining followers. While disturbing in the sociopolitical sphere, I find these especially troubling when supported, spread, or believed by those representing Jesus. How do I respond? What do I focus on amid the myriad speculations, half truths and fake news?
Faith
How Will I Know This For Certain?
"How will I know this for certain?" Zechariah asked and God called his question unbelief. Mary asked "How will this be?" and God said she believed. So why was Zechariah’s question not acceptable and Mary’s was?
Child-Like
Mary was between 13 and 16 years of age when the angel visited her (according to most scholars) because that's the age girls got married in those days. But I wonder if my friend isn't onto something? I wonder if God chose a young girl because she also had child-like faith?
Power in Creating
“Why pay $39.99? I can easily make those,” I said to my husband. We were wandering the shops of McKinney, Texas while on our anniversary date and the varieties of stuffed pumpkins caught my eye. I am a great copier. Not many of my ideas are original. But I can take a sample or a pattern … Continue reading Power in Creating
Bring Them To Jesus
Today, I sit and listen to Jesus’s teaching by reading and meditating on Matthew 9:1–8 and its parallel passages Luke 5:17–26 and Mark 2:1–12. I follow the example of the crowd that pressed in upon Jesus to hear him speak and to witness his demonstrations of power by healing many sick people.
How Far Will They Go?
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Andrew spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far with they go among so many?"
Bollards
A row of bollards loomed in front of me. My heartbeat accelerated. My cadence slowed. The bike path was challenging enough without the prospect of navigating between a row of narrowly placed poles. These fixed posts, designed to keep vehicles from crossing, threatened to disrupt my peaceful ride with my husband. I tentatively approached the … Continue reading Bollards
